दम्भो दर्पोऽभिमानश्च क्रोधः पारुष्यमेव च।अज्ञानं चाभिजातस्य पार्थ सम्पदमासुरीम्।।16.4।।
dambho darpo ’abhimanash cha krodhah parushyam eva cha; ajnam chaabhijat asya Partha sampadam asurim
Translation
O Partha, the qualities of those who possess a demoniac nature are pride, arrogance, conceit, anger, harshness, and ignorance.
Word Meanings
dambhaḥ — pride; darpaḥ — arrogance; abhimānaḥ — conceit; ca — and; krodhaḥ — anger; pāruṣyam — harshness; eva — certainly; ca — and; ajñānaṃ — ignorance; ca — and; abhijātasya — of one who is born of; pārtha — O son of Pṛthā; sampadam — the qualities; āsurīm — of the demoniac nature.
Understanding the Verse
In this verse, Lord Krishna enumerates the six primary vices that characterize the demoniac (āsur) disposition, contrasting them with the divine qualities of a sattvic nature. The first of these vices is "dambha" – pride. Pride is not merely self‑respect but an inflated sense of superiority that blinds one to the truth and fosters contempt for others. This arrogance becomes the seed from which all other negative emotions sprout, as the proud individual assumes a position of unwarranted authority over the moral order.
The next vice, "darpa" – arrogance, is closely allied with pride but emphasizes an overt disdain toward those deemed inferior. While pride may be an internal self‑esteem, arrogance projects that superiority outward, often resulting in the dismissal of genuine counsel and an unwillingness to accept correction. This external expression of superiority alienates the individual from the community and impedes the development of humility, a prerequisite for spiritual progress.
"Abhimāna" – conceit, represents an internal fixation on one's own ego, manifesting as a constant need to validate one's self‑importance. Conceit fuels an endless cycle of comparison and competition, diverting the seeker from the self‑realization that arises through surrender and humility. It perpetuates the illusion of separateness, the very barrier that the Gita teaches must be dissolved.
The fourth quality, "krodha" – anger, is an explosive emotion that clouds judgment and leads to harmful actions. Anger, when unchecked, destroys relationships, disrupts inner peace, and triggers a cascade of negative karmic consequences. In the Bhagavad Gita, controlled action (karma yoga) is praised, whereas anger represents impulsive, unregulated behavior that contradicts the principle of detached duty.
"Pāruṣyam" – harshness, denotes a rough, uncultivated temperament that manifests as cruelty, insensitivity, or a propensity to inflict suffering. Harsh individuals lack the gentleness (mṛdu) that characterises a compassionate soul. This severity hampers the development of empathy and obstructs the path to divine love (prema) that the Gita urges aspirants to cultivate.
Finally, "ajñāna" – ignorance, is the root cause of all the aforementioned vices. Ignorance in the scriptural context is not mere lack of knowledge but a profound misunderstanding of one's true nature and the ultimate reality (Brahman). When a person remains ignorant of the self, they remain bound to material desires, fostering the other demonic qualities. Enlightenment, therefore, is the antidote that dissolves ignorance and neutralizes the other vices.
Krishna's concise cataloguing of these vices serves a dual purpose: it warns seekers against the pitfalls of a demoniac mindset, and it implicitly points toward the contrasting virtues (such as humility, compassion, and wisdom) that characterize a divine, sattvic disposition. By recognizing and transcending these six faults, an aspirant can align with the higher path of dharma, ultimately attaining self‑realization and liberation (moksha).
